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CHAPTER X - AT FEINHEIMER'S.
Feinheimer liked Jimmy's appearance. He was big and strong, and the fact that
Feinheimer always retained one or two powerful men upon his payroll accounted
in a large measure for the orderliness of his place. Occasionally one might start
something at Feinheimer's, but no one was ever known to finish what he started.
And so Jimmy found himself waiting upon table at a place that was both
reputable and disreputable, serving business men at noon and criminals and the
women of the underworld at night. In the weeks that he was there he came to
know many of the local celebrities in various walks of life, to know them at least
by name. There was Steve Murray, the labor leader, whom rumor said was one of
Feinheimer's financial backers--a large man with a loud voice and the table
manners of a Duroc-Jersey. Jimmy took an instinctive dislike to the man the first
time that he saw him.
And then there was Little Eva, whose real name was Edith. She was a demure
looking little girl, who came in every afternoon at four o'clock for her breakfast.
She usually came to Jimmy's table when it was vacant, and at four o'clock she
always ate alone. Later in the evening she would come in again with a male
escort, who was never twice the same.
"I wonder what's the matter with me?" she said to Jimmy one day as he was
serving her breakfast. "I'm getting awfully nervous."
"That's quite remarkable," said Jimmy. "I should think any one who smoked as
many cigarettes and drank as much whisky as you would have perfect nerves."
The girl laughed, a rather soft and mellow laugh. "I suppose I do hit it up a little
strong," she said.
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